Mesoporous TiO2 Embedded with a Uniform Distribution of CuO Exhibit Enhanced Charge Separation and Photocatalytic Efficiency

Authors

Yu-Te Liao, National Taiwan University
Yu-Yuan Huang, National Taiwan University
Hao Chen, National Taiwan University
Kenji Komaguchi, Hiroshima University
Chia-Hung Hou, National Taiwan University
Joel Henzie, National Institute for Materials Science, Japan
Yusuke Yamauchi, University of Wollongong, National Institute for Materials Science, JapanFollow
Yusuke Ide, National Institute for Materials Science, Japan
Kevin C.-W Wu, National Taiwan UniversityFollow

RIS ID

118202

Publication Details

Liao, Y., Huang, Y., Chen, H. Ming., Komaguchi, K., Hou, C., Henzie, J., Yamauchi, Y., Ide, Y. & Wu, K. C.-W. (2017). Mesoporous TiO2 Embedded with a Uniform Distribution of CuO Exhibit Enhanced Charge Separation and Photocatalytic Efficiency. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 9 (49), 42425-42429.

Abstract

Mixed metal oxide nanoparticles have interesting physical and chemical properties, but synthesizing them with colloidal methods is still challenging and often results in very heterogeneous structures. Here, we describe a simple method to synthesize mesoporous titania nanoparticles implanted with a uniform distribution of copper oxide nanocrystals (CuO@MTs). By calcining a titanium-based metal-organic framework (MIL-125) in the presence of Cu ions, we can trap the Cu in the TiO 2 matrix. Removal of the organic ligand creates mesoporosity and limits phase separation so that tiny CuO nanocrystals form in the interstices of the TiO 2 . The CuO@MTs exhibits superior performance for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (4760 μmol h -1 ) that is > 90 times larger than pristine titania.